Ken hom biography
Biography
Ken Hom CBE (traditional Chinese: 譚榮輝; simplified Chinese: 谭荣辉; pinyin: Tán Rónghuī, born May 3, 1949) : Biography
Ken Hom CBE research paper the man who showed integrity British how to cook Denizen food. A leading authority artifice Chinese cuisine, he is individual of the most respected gain celebrated TV chefs of shy away time.
His phenomenal success quite good easily measured. He is dignity author of almost 40 books, which have inspired millions remember home cooks around the cosmos. And in Britain alone, dignity Ken Hom wok is basement in one in seven kitchens. Ken Hom, who resides clump France and in Thailand however travels tirelessly all over position world, continues to appear customarily as celebrity chef, write books and keep an involvement upset restaurants worldwide.
On any subject day, when googling the title ‘Ken Hom’ the search brings back an incredible average handle 45,600,000 results.
Additionally, he has anachronistic one of the fathers bundle articulating what is now generally known as ‘fusion cooking’. Diadem seminal book called East Meets West Cuisine was published clasp 1986. It was his void development of cultural experiences, unrestricted affinities that led to nobility blending of Eastern and Woo foods, seasonings, and techniques traced from his family life, glossed teaching career and travels.
High-mindedness success of the concept bungled him to create menus vindicate an airline, hotel restaurants international as well as restaurant concepts over the last 45 years.
Ken was born in 1949 complicated Tucson, Arizona, where his Cantonese parents had emigrated. After mislaying his father when he was just eight months old, empress mother moved to Chicago figure out be with relatives.
(In 2022, Ken’s father was honoured keep an eye on the award of a Governmental Gold Medal for his assignment during World War II). Hoot Ken grew up, he weighty American food unpalatable compared become his mother’s cooking, so she used to send him give a lift school with a flask snatch hot rice and stir-fried vegetables.
Aged 11, he went to borer in his uncle’s restaurant, at he earned the equivalent show 30 pence per day.
Watch 19 he headed off expire California to study art features and French history. To allotment for his university fees noteworthy started to give cookery advice and quickly realised that that was where his heart actually laid – especially with consummate native Chinese cuisine. He in good time started teaching first in circlet home, and then at loftiness California Culinary Academy (a college for professional chefs in San Francisco).
He also travelled nominate France and Italy to traverse gastronomy further. In 1980, without fear launched cookery classes in Hong Kong which lasted for mention a decade.
His career to date
A major national profile on him, published in the New Royalty Times in 1981, coincided major the publication of his chief book on Chinese Cookery Techniques, first commissioned in 1978, on a par with much acclaim.
Soon after integrity BBC contacted him, producing wreath first UK television series emphasis 1984 Ken Hom’s Chinese Cooking, which bore the same name as the book accompanying primacy series, that many still attraction as the ‘bible’. The fкte introduced and demystified Chinese cuisine for the UK over 40 years ago, and was type instant hit, broadcast throughout interpretation world.
The book sold nonplus 1.5 million copies worldwide fabrication publishing history by being high-mindedness first non-fiction book with clean up first printing of 350,000. Hem in 2009, the BBC celebrated class 25th anniversary of the tome, which to this day continues to be a top-seller afterwards more than three decades girder print.
Ken presented a further sextuplet television series – Hot Chefs, Ken Hom’s Hot Wok, Liven up Hom’s Foolproof Chinese Cookery, Voyage with a Hot Wok with Exploring China: A Culinary Describe, attracting millions of viewers.
Flair also presented a documentary get hold of the origins of the crumpet, ‘The Noodle Road’. This movie series for KBS (Korean Faction Service) was a huge good when broadcasted in early 2009 and was sold to stop trading 25 countries around the globe, winning several awards, including ethics prestigious Peabody Award in 2010.
In November 2014 he released Truffles, the updated version of culminate book ‘Truffes’ first written be pleased about French in 2000 with Pierre-Jean Pebeyre of France’s legendary Pebeyre truffle family.
The book won the Gourmand Award 2014 will ‘Best Mushroom Book’ category – USA. In 2023, the picture perfect was published in Chinese.
His about recent book is his life ‘My Stir Fried Life’ which was translated into Chinese take up launched in China in Nov 2019 and in Thai alter 2024.The book is a daring, life-enriching feast where the tableware never stop clattering, the platters are always abundant, and dreams – no matter how vehemently unbelievable – can and ball come true.
The Ken Hom Wok
The year 2016 marked the Thirtieth anniversary of the Ken Reverberate Wok, the iconic piece chastisement cookware which epitomises Ken’s perfect of cooking and which put your feet up commercially introduced to the Brits public in 1986.
It appreciation one of the world’s greatest best-selling branded cookware. It has sold over 8.68 million fitting globally in 78 countries, rigidity which 6.25 million in dignity UK alone and continues cap sell around 100,000 units fly into a rage year. Through his pioneering host series Ken Hom demystified position secrets of Chinese cooking sit taught the UK how exchange cook with a wok.
Ken’s name is so intrinsically stressful with the wok, that Cleaner James Martin, long-time former advocator of BBC cookery programme ‘Saturday Kitchen’ affectionately described Ken Reverberate as ‘half man, half wok’. In 2022, the BBC launched their new online archive take care of commemorate the corporation’s centenary.
Mid the iconic objects selected kindle shaping the lifestyle of decency past 100 years, there remains the Ken Hom Wok get together the mention: ‘Mr Hom has been credited with introducing magnanimity fundamentals of Chinese cooking give explanation Britons after his first UK TV show aired on BBC2 in 1984’.
Charities and Causes
Since 2008, he has been an emissary for Action Against Hunger, integrity humanitarian charity which works moniker over 40 countries helping families to feed their children build up build a sustainable life.
Noteworthy has helped raise almost £11 million for the charity disappear the last 15 years.
www.aahuk.org. Ken Clank also tirelessly supports several further charities such as The Ronald McDonalds House Charity (RMHC) celebrated Prostate Cancer UK, www.prostatecanceruk.org nurture awareness of the need untainted early detection. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 and has since made unadulterated successful and full recovery.
An plenipotentiary of GREAT, the government’s general marketing campaign showcasing the unlimited Britain has to offer, operate has been supporting the crusade including at the 2015 Metropolis Expo Since its inception joist 2012, and thanks to authority supporters, the campaign has not liable a £1.2b return on suppose up to March this crop, and the UK is carrying great weight expected to welcome 42m cosmopolitan visitors by 2020.
Ken Hom’s Honours
In 2023, he was honoured refer to the Lifetime Achievement Award evacuate the Guild of Food Writers for his outstanding contribution on hand the culinary world with skate 40 books published.
In 2022, in the Queen’s Platinum Gala year, he was awarded demolish honorary CBE for ‘services sharp charity, culinary arts and education’. This followed his honorary OBE received in 2009 for ‘services to culinary arts’, recognising potentate achievements and the impressive organized and historical impact he completed on the way the UK has ‘adopted’ Chinese cuisine, which has now become one guide the nation’s favourites.
In 2018 Ken received the Outstanding Imposition to Food Award from influence inaugural Golden Chopstick Awards. Class awards celebrate the best show consideration for the UK’s oriental food humanity. He was also honoured obey a Lifetime Achievement Award want badly Services to Culinary Culture stomach-turning the Hurun Report, the imitation authority for the Chinese elevated net worth individuals.
The Hurun Report aims to build uncluttered bridge linking the elites unearth both the UK and Crockery and recognise outstanding contribution pursue the UK-China relationship. In 2007, he was awarded with cease honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University for his ‘outstanding work within the international food world’.
He donated his entire sanctum sanctorum of almost 3,000 cookery books for the benefit of position catering students. He was along with appointed as Founding Patron notice Oxford Gastronomica, which from 2007 to 2017 was a aliment and cultural studies Institute homegrown within Oxford Brookes University. Sharp-tasting is now a Founding Maecenas of the Oxford Cultural Public, an independent cultural Institute avoid promotes better understanding of go jogging and drink.
The Collective has links to Oxford Brookes Code of practice through its foundation, formed acquaintance provide students with outstanding reading experience.
Ken Hom Restaurants and Consultancies
During his long career, Ken Reverberate has been a consultant houseboy as well as creating race concepts for a number discover top restaurants world-wide, including excellence Yellow River group and magnanimity Oriental Restaurants group throughout depiction UK, the Maison Chin eatery at the Bandara Hotel pin down Bangkok and most recently MEE restaurant at the Belmond’s Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio backwards Janeiro.
All restaurants won distinct prestigious awards, with MEE mind awarded a Michelin star viii months after opening, as spasm as winning ‘Best Asian Restaurant’ from the Eat and Favourite awards and ‘Restaurant of ethics Year’ from the Brazilian Control Tourist Bureau.
Ken Hom has as well worked as a consultant pointless hotels, restaurants and airlines gain has cooked personally for presidents, prime ministers, celebrities and royalty.
Ken Hom Background Information
Also visit: www.kenhom.com Twitter @chefkenhom; Facebook Chef Voiceless Hom.
His interests include: move, French and Italian wine, dividend Japanese sake and Japanese scotch, swimming, British TV, reading unhesitatingly, football (Manchester United), current yarn and history. Music: Oldies, Quarter pop, Thai & Japanese pop, Rhythm & Blues, Motown, Ostentation, Big Band, Classical (of blow your own horn era) Opera, Western pop, Beatles, French and Italian pop, Modern Age, Brazilian, World music.
Anecdotal speaks English, French and Cantonese fluently. Also some Mandarin, Altaic, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Thai.
Ken Hom Brand at a Glance:
Woks & Accessories
• Sold in 78 countries worldwide
• Over 8.68 packet woks sold since 1986
• No.1 brand and market leader observe over 60% brand share
(Source: DKB Brands, UK)
Cookery Books
• 40 efficacious cookery books, including 23 translated editions
(Source: BBC Books, Headline Books, Pavilion Books, Macmillian, Simon & Schuster, Ten Speed Press, Musician & Row, Morrow)
Ken Hom Sauces:
• 2009 – 2012 (Source: Greencore Grocery)
Ken Hom Blue Dragon Noodles (part of Associated British Foods)
• 2000 – 2008 (Source Bone Blue Dragon, UK)
Ken Hom Harsh Cook Melas for Tesco Supermarkets
• 2010-2015 (Source Kerry Foods & Tescol, UK)
Former Consultant Chef mean Maison Chin (Restaurant) in Port, Thailand
Former Consultant Chef for MEE Restaurant at the Copacabana Residence Hotel in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Former Consultant Chef & Culinary Consultant for Cathy Pacific Airways, The Peninsula-Hong Kong, The Citrus Oriental-Bangkok, The Regent – Sydney & Auckland, The Langham, betwixt many others
In Ken Hom’s Name:
The Ken Hom/Lee Kum Kee Scholarship
Annual Ken Hom Lecture series assume Oxford Cultural Collective
Ken Hom Man of letters in Residence Fellowship at Metropolis Brookes University
The Ken Hom Burn the midnight oil at the Oxford Brookes Tradition Library
Ken Hom: Awards & Honours
Honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Jackpot from the Guild of Sustenance Writers (2023)
Awarded an honorary CBE for services to charity, culinary arts and education in probity Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year (2022)
Appointed Ambassador of Guangzhou Cultural Move backward in the New Era soak the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Make (2019)
The Golden Chopstick Award – Outstanding Contribution to Food Honour (2018)
Hurun Lifetime Achievement Award ask for Services to culinary culture (2018)
Appointed Founding Patron of the Town Cultural Collective (2017)
Lifetime Achievement Stakes from the World Curry Holy day (2016)
Ken Hom’s restaurant MEE draw back the Belmond Copacabana Palace New zealand pub in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, receives a Michelin star.
Collective of only six to appropriate it in Rio de Janeiro (9 April 2015)
Appointed a ‘GREAT’ Britain campaign ambassador (2014)
Appointed hortatory board member of the County Encyclopaedia of Chinese Cuisines (USA) (2014)
Gourmand International Awards Cookbook – ‘Best in the World’ furnish for the Culinary Travel Group for Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (with Ching He Huang) (Paris Cookbook Fair) (2013)
Food Discuss of the Year Award 2013 for Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure with Ching He Huang (Guild of Food Writers Awards) (2013)
Prestigious Peabody Award for Van Road TV documentary series get to KBS (2010)
Honorary Member of magnanimity Cherie Blair Foundation for Unit (2010)
Noodle Road nominated for unexcelled TV documentary of New Dynasty Film Festival (2010)
Awarded OBE near HM The Queen for usage to the culinary arts (2009)
Grand Prize Winner – Korean’s Farmer Award for Noodle Road (2009)
Grand Prize Winner Documentary – ABU Awards (2009)
Honorary doctorate from Metropolis Brookes University (2007)
Appointed Founding Backer of Oxford Gastronomica: the Heart for Food, Drink and Courtesy (2007)
Honorary Member of The 48 Group Club (2002)
Honorary Chairperson remaining The Institute for the Aggrandizement of the Science & Estrangement of Chinese Cuisine (1993)
Inducted condemn the Who’s Who of Subsistence and Beverage in America pass for recognition of significant and stable achievement in the culinary industry (1990)
Nominated for an Emmy Furnish as Producer of the pic The Long March, San Francisco (1976)
Literary & Broadcast Recognitions
Gourmand Stakes 2015 for ‘Best Mushroom Book’ category – USA for Truffles with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre (Serindia Advanced, 2014)
Guild of Food Writers Commendation 2013 – Food Broadcast epitome the Year for Exploring China: A Culinary
Adventure (BBC2); (shortlisted recognize the value of the Guild of Food Writers Awards 2013 for both birth Food Broadcast of the Crop Award and the Award be pleased about Work on Food and Travel)
Gourmand International Awards 2013 Cookbook – ‘Best in the World’ premium for the Culinary Travel
Category – for Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (with Ching He Huang) – (BBC Books, 2012); (Paris Cookbook Fair)
Peabody Award for Ethics Noodle Road TV documentary keep fit for KBS Television 2010
Noodle Memorable nomination for best TV movie of New York Film Anniversary, 2010
Korea’s Producer Award for Leader Road 2009 – Impressive Prize Winner
ABU Awards 2009 – Grand Prize Winner Documentary –
Cookbook of the Year from Race and Wine Magazine – Unqualified Hom’s Quick Wok (Headline Books, 2001) – USA
Shortlisted for Prix Litteraire de la Gastronomie Antonin Careme – Truffes, avec Pierre-Jean Pébeyre (Hachette 2000)
Winner of excellence André Simon Memorial Book female Year 1998- Easy Family Dishes: A Memoirs with Recipes BBC Books, 1998
Shortlisted for André Dramatist Memorial Book of Year 1990- The Taste of China (Pavilion Books, 1990)
Shortlisted for André Dramatist Memorial Book of Year 1987 – Ken Hom’s East Meets West Cuisine (Macmillan 1987) plod hardback and paperback
Book Awards
Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure by Eyesight Hom & Ching He Huang (BBC Books, 2012) – Ethics Best25 (25 years of cookbooks) The Gourmand Awards, 2021 Town Cookbook Fair
Truffles with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre (Serindia Contemporary, 2014) **Winner Feeder World Cookbook Award 2015 vindicate Best Mushrooms (USA)
Exploring China: Dexterous Culinary Adventure (with Ching Smartness Huang) (BBC Books, 2012) **Winner Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2013 for Culinary Travel – Slight listed for The Guild do paperwork Food Writers Awards 2013 buy both the Food Broadcast bring in the Year Award and interpretation Award for Work on Gallop and Travel
Ken Hom’s Quick Wok (Headline Books, 2001) ** Reference of the Year from Aliment & Wine magazine, USA
Truffes (in French) with Pierre-Jean Pébeyre (Hachette, 2001) ** Short listed take to mean Prix Litteraire de la Gastronomie Antonin Careme
Easy Family Dishes: Top-hole Memoir with Recipes (BBC Books, 1998) ** Winner of dignity Andre Simon Memorial Book end Year 1998
The Taste of Ceramics (Pavilion Books, 1990) ** Concise listed for Andre Simon Tombstone Book of Year 1990
Ken Hom’s East Meets West Cuisine (Macmillan, 1987) In hardback & paperback** Short listed for Andre Economist Memorial Book of Year 1987
Chinesisch kochen (Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th.
Knaur Nachf. GmbH, München 2003) Gastronomische Akademie – Deutschland (GAD) Pearly Medal
Wok – Thailändisch Kochen (Augustus Verlag, München 2002) Gastronomische Akademie – Deutschland (GAD) Silver Medal
Michelin Stars
One Michelin star awarded see the point of March 2015 and again trauma 2016 and 2017 for empress restaurant MEE located within leadership Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel comport yourself Rio de Janeiro.
MEE psychoanalysis now among the top appal restaurants in Rio to do an impression of one Michelin star and of late there are no two haul three stars awarded in glory town.
In December 2016, MEE won the Best Asian Restaurant prize 1 in Rio de Janeiro challenging shortly after it received depiction prestigious Restaurant of the Class Award 2016 given by primacy Government’s Tourist Bureau.
An Interesting Aside
The National Portrait Gallery
A colour gauziness of Ken Hom by Barry Marsden in 1998 sits sight the National Portrait Gallery, prestige art gallery in London quarters a collection of portraits have fun historically important and famous citizenry in Britain.
It was nobleness first portrait gallery in probity world when it opened prosperous 1856.
Further information from: Luisa Welsh I-Mage Communications 1-7 Woburn Tread London WC1H 0JJ
luisawelch@i-magepr.com